Cotton-chopper.



No.' 69u02.

Patented 1an. I4, |902.

G. BERRINGEB.

coTTo'N cH'oPPEn.

(Application led Oct. 5, 1901.|

2 Sheets-sheet l.

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4 `W/7-WESSES: INVENTOH Mdm Waffe-WW A TTORNEYS No. 69u02. Patented 1an.I4, |902.

a. BEHRINGER.

co'TToN cHoP'PEn.

(Application led Oct. 5, 1901.1 (No Modal.) 2 Sheets-Sham 2.

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GEORGE BERRINGER, OF BLANCO, TEXAS.

COTTONCHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1N o. 691,102, datedJanuary 14, 190.2.

v Application filed October 5,1901. Serial No. 77,665. (No model.)

To all whom t 'may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE BEHRINGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Blanco, in the county of Blanco and State of Texas, havemade certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Choppers, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in that class of cotton-choppers in whicha device in the nature of a hoe-blade is attached to a lever-arm adaptedto swing or rotate in a vertical plane, whereby it chops out some of thestanding cotton-plants as the machine advances, thus leaving the plantsin bunches, as desired.

The construction, arrangement, and operation of parts are as hereinafterdescribed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is mainly a side elevation of the machine, one of thetransportingwheels being removed and other parts broken away to show aportion of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a front end view. Fig. 3 is vmainlya rear end view, a portion being in section. Fig. l is a plan view.

The frame A of the machine is rectangular and mounted upon an axle B oftransporting or running wheels O. front cross-bar a of the frame have anupward Spring or arch, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The chopper or blade Dis attached to a lever-arm E, which is pivoted and adapted to swing onthe crank-arm E of a shaft G, which is journaled in pivoted swingingarms H. The said arms H are pivoted to the axle B and the front and rearbars a a' of the frame at points adjacent to the upward spring or archbefore referred to. The free end of the lever-arm E projects through akeeper I, attached to one of the side bars of frame A, as shown. Anantifriction-roller .I is arranged in the lower side of said keeper I,and the lever-arm E bears and slides upon the same when the machine isin operation. The weight of the chopping device, the crank-arm F, andthe shaft G serves to carry the latter down into the position requiredfor efficient operation of the chopper D. Such position is illustratedin Fig. 2. Rotation is imparted to the shaft G and the required swingingmovement The axle B and theV tothe chopper D through the medium ofgearing, which derives motion from one of the transporting -wheels O, aswill now be described. A bevel-gear K is attached to the inner side ofone of said wheels concentrically therewith. A shaft L, having on itsrear end a bevel-pinion M, that meshes with the driving-gear K, ismounted horizontally in bearings between the wheel O and the side of theframe and projects at the front end of the latter, where it is providedwith a sprocketwheel N. A smaller sprocket-wheel O is. keyed on thefront end of the shaft G, and a chain P runs on the two sprockets, asshown.. The said chain is slack when the shaft G is raised, as shown infull lines, Fig. 3, but is taut when the shaft is lowered to the workingposition shown in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of raising the shaft G and its attached chopper D to theposition shown in full lines, Fig. 3, and holding it locked in suchposition I employ a hand-lever Q, which is pivoted to a bracket R,attached to the frame. As shown in Fig. l, an arm of said lever Q, isconnected by links T with the shaft G, and it may be locked in anyrequired adjustment by means of a spring-pawl U, which engages a notchedsegment V.

It will be seen that when the lever Q is adjusted properly the shaft Gis lowered, and the sprocket-chain P being then taut rotation will beimparted to the shaft and the-chopper D caused to swing in a circulararc, and in so doing it will remove at each rotation a portion of thegrowing cotton-plants. In other words, as the machine advances themovement of the chopper, due to the rotation of the shaft G and itscrank-arm F, will have the eect of chopping out the cotton at intervalsof spaces and leave the remainder standing in bunches, as required.

For the purpose of throwing the chopper .out of action I provide theshaft L with a clutch W, which is adapted to slide thereon and isoperated through the medium of a horizontal pivoted lever X and avertical lever Z. The latter is pivoted like the lever Q, beforedescribed, and similarly provided with a spring locking-pawl, whichengages a notched segment.

The operation is obvious. The frame A is ICO provided with a tongue orpole a2, which is rigidly attached to the central portion thereof, asshown.

AS shown in Fig. Li, the shaft G is not continuous, but formed of alinedportions, which are rigidly connected by the crank F, this constructionbeing necessary to enable the lever-arm E of the chopper to have therequired reciprocating movement.

The machine is simple and inexpensive in construction. The chopper maybe quickly lowered to be set in action and operates effectively withminimum friction.

What I claim is-- l. The combination,with the wheeled frame and a seriesof swinging arms pivoted thereto, of a shaft mounted rotatably in thefreeends of said arms and provided with a crank as described; a chopperproper having a leverarm hinged upon said crank; means for raising thesaid shaft with its attached chopper, and means for imparting rotationthereto; substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination,with the wheeled frame and arms pivoted thereto andadapted to swing in a vertical plane, of a shaft journaled in the freeends of said arms and provided with a crank; a chopper having alever-arm hinged on said crank; a keeper arranged on the frame, the saidlever-arm working in the same; and means for rotating the said shaft;substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination,with the Wheeled frame having an axle and cross-bareach provided with an upward spring or arch, of a crankshaft passingbeneath said arches, swinging arms in which the shaft is mounted, achopper attached to the crank of said shaft, and means for rotating andraising said shaft, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination,with the wheeled frame and arms pivoted thereto so asto swing in a vertical plane of a rotatable shaft journaled in said armsand formed in sections, which are alined; a crank-arm which rigidlyconnects the said sections and is provided with an open slot as shown; achopper having a lever-arm which is hinged on said crank; a keeper fixedon the frame and through which the chopper-arm reciprocates; and'meansfor raising the said shaft and chopper in the manner described.

5. The combination,with the wheeled frame and arms pivoted thereto so asto swing in a vertical plane, a rotatable crank-shaft journaled in saidarms, and a chopper attached to the crank of said shaft, of a leverpivoted upon the frame and provided with means for locking it indifferent adjustments, and a link connection between said lever andshaft, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination,with the wheeled frame and arms pivoted thereto andswinging in a vertical plane, of a rotatable crank-shaft journaled insaid arms and having a sprocketwheel affixed to one end thereof, abevel-gear attached concentrically to one of the transporting wheels; ashaft geared therewith and having a sprocket-wheel on its front end; achain running on said sprocketwheels; a chopper attached to thecrank-shaft; and lever-and-link mechanism for raisingsaid shaft, thearrangement being such as described, whereby, when the shaft is loweredto carry the chopper into position for operation, the sprocket-chain istaut, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combinatiomwith the wheeled frame having an axle and cross-barseach provided with an upward arch, of arms pivoted and swinging in avertical plane, the rotatable shaft journaled in said arms and providedwith a crank having au open slot, a chopper attached to a leverarm, thelatter being hinged upon the crank and working in a keeper fixed on theframe; a lever-and-link mechanism connected with the shaft, Whereby itmay be swung up into the aforesaid arches; a driving-shaft geared Withone of the transporting-wheels; sprocket-wheels affixed to the aforesaidshafts; and a chain running on such sprocket-wheels; all as shown anddescribed.

GEORGE BERRINGER.

Witnesses:

ETHEL PRICE,` W. P. HUDSON.

